Twister: The Original Screenplay

by Michael Crichton, Anne-Marie Martin

The movie's screenplay describes the competition between two rival groups of scientists determined to be the first to put a tracking device inside the funnel of a tornado

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Science Fiction, Adventure, Media Tie In, Film, Adult Fiction

182 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

John Michael Crichton was an American author, screenwriter, and filmmaker whose prolific career left an indelible mark on popular culture and speculative fiction. Raised on Long Island, he displayed a precocious talent for writing, publishing an article in The New York Times at sixteen. Initially enrolling at Harvard as an English major, he switched to biological anthropology after discovering a preference for scientific study over literature. He graduated summa cum laude and received a fellowship to lecture in anthropology at Cambridge. Later attending Harvard Medical School, he earned his MD but chose not to practice, dedicating himself to writing instead. His medical background profoundly influenced his novels, providing authentic scientific and technical underpinnings that became a hallmark of his work. Crichton began writing under pseudonyms, producing suspenseful thrillers as John Lange, including Odds On, Scratch One, and Easy Go, and as Jeffrey Hudson with A Case of Need, earning him an Edgar Award. His first major success under his own name, The Andromeda Strain, established his signature blend of scientific authenticity, tension, and exploration of technological hazards, leading to its film adaptation. Over his career, he wrote 25 novels, including The Terminal Man, The Great Train Robbery, Congo, Sphere, Jurassic Park, Rising Sun, Disclosure, The Lost World, Airframe, Timeline, Prey, State of Fear, and Next, several adapted into major films, with four additional works published posthumously. Crichton also made significant contributions to film and television. He wrote and directed Westworld, pioneering the use of 2D computer-generated imagery, and later directed Coma, The First Great Train Robbery, Looker, and Runaway. He created the influential medical drama ER, which he executive produced and developed with Steven Spielberg, achieving critical and commercial success. Many of his novels, most famously Jurassic Park and its sequel The Lost World, became cultural phenomena, combining imaginative adventure with grounded scientific speculation, often exploring humanity’s overreach in genetics, biotechnology, and complex systems. His literary style was notable for integrating meticulous scientific detail, suspense, and moral cautionary themes. His works frequently addressed the failure of complex systems—biological, technological, or organizational—demonstrating the unpredictable consequences of human hubris. Employing techniques such as first-person narratives, false documents, fictionalized scientific reports, and assembling expert teams to tackle crises, Crichton created immersive stories appealing to both popular and scholarly audiences. His exploration of genetics, paleontology, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence revealed both fascination and caution about humanity’s technological ambitions, while his early non-fiction, such as Five Patients and Electronic Life, reflected his scientific insight and forward-thinking approach to computers and programming. Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall, Crichton experienced social isolation in adolescence and later pursued meditation and consultations with psychics, cultivating a lifelong interest in human consciousness and alternative experiences. A workaholic, he approached writing with disciplined ritualistic methodology, often retreating entirely to complete a novel in six or seven weeks. He was married five times, fathered two children, and maintained a wide-ranging collection of 20th-century American art. Crichton engaged in political and scientific discourse, particularly regarding global warming, where he was an outspoken skeptic and testified before the U.S. Senate. He contributed significantly to the discussion of intellectual property, technology, and environmental policy, coining concepts such as the Gell-Mann amnesia effect. Throughout his life, he received numerous awards, including Edgar Awards, a Peabody Award for ER, an Aca

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am addicted to watching movies as I am in reading books. The pleasure is doubled when a book I've read is adapted to a movie. In this case the movie is really as good as the book, for it IS the screenplay so it did not at all vary. This version is the original screenplay of the movie Twister. Having read this before watching the film, it confirms that a person's imagination truly knows no bounds. Not to downgrade the intensity of the movie scenes but the events seem to be wilder in my mind than in the big screen. Truly, reading is one of the best activities to stimulate your imagination.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am I biased? Since this movie is my favorite. It sparked a love for weather phenomenon at a young age and yet terrified me at the same time because I knew what devastation tornadoes can do.

Anyways I give this screenplay Five stars. It has some minor changes but I was still able to invision what was going on since I have seen the movie that many times.

[Sarafina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Disappointing honestly. I only recommend it for nostalgic reasons, there’s no Aunt Meg, Jo’s parents are still around and there was really no heart. I guess that’s how screenplays are but this fell flat compared to the movie. I know screenplays are rough drafts but I’m glad they made the changes they did in the actual movie. (physical Book)

[Ashton Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly quick read with it being a screenplay. Was way more different from the movie than I had anticipated!

[Drew Weatherton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This screenplay offers a great look at Crichton's first cut at the movie script. It's largely the same as the movie but with some interesting differences. We also get to see Crichton's descriptions of action scenes (which I love). He could have easily turned this into a novel but it works so well as a movie.

[Kaela Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still love the movie more. The book was good and gave little but not much more detail than the movie did. I’m very glad that they didn’t add a few scenes from the book into the movie because it really would have just made the movie less enjoyable and rewatch worthy.
I liked Jo’s background better in the movie because it gave her more of a reason to chase the tornados versus in the book they didn’t really give her a reason except that she was fascinated by them and all.
Overall I’d definitely recommend just watching the movie, it is way better.

[Kwincie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The screenplay the movie was adapted from, how could I not love? The movie is pretty much spot on, except the dad doesn't go flying out of the storm shelter in the beginning. Michael Crichton was honestly just a literary/ cinematic genius.

[Paulina P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nunca habia leído un guión. Me gustó la adrenalina que te hacen sentir los personajes. He visto la pelicula, pero me gustó mucho la experiencia del guión e imaginármelo todo.

[SpookyxSpice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait to talk about this in my next video

[Noelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siempre me hice cargo de que soy lectora de personajes más que de plot o de woldbuilding. Y ese es el problema que encontré con Twister: detesté profundamente a Jo. Es caprichosa, egoísta, manipuladora; tiene cero empatía. Y, en lo personal, desprecio profundamente a ese tipo de personas, así que la detesté a cada palabra que dijo. Entiendo que el problema también es que no fui capaz de separar un "buen" mal personaje, de lo desagradable que me resultó Jo. Así que en esta no te puedo apoyar, Crichton, mil perdones.
Respecto del libro en sí, está escrito a modo de guión cinematográfico y no de novela, lo cual le da dinamismo y lo convierte en una lectura fácil, rápida y activa. No obstante, para quienes vieron la película, a mí me pareció que era prácticamente lo mismo. No encontré más que detalles diferentes acá o allá, pero a grandes rasgos es igualito.
En fin, un libro corto, dinámico, rápido y entretenido con un personaje principal desagradable.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a huge Twister fan, it's a wonder it's taken me so long to read this. My bullet point review:
-Melissa's character is 100% more likeable in this script
-what is up with military/pit crew coordinator Jonas Miller?
-Jo is not playfully antagonistic, she's just MEAN.
-The Tornado scenes were cool and described really well.
-Bill is kinda there.
-I never knew how much I liked Phillip Seymore Hoffman's Dusty until this characterization was missing from the book.

Worth a quick read through-it reads little goofy to me, but maybe I'm so used to the movie.

[John DiBiase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. It was a fast read, being the original script before it changed for the movie. Seems the best dialog wasn’t even in Crichton’s original script, which is interesting, but the gist of the story remained. Some scenes play out differently, and there are actually more characters in the film, but overall, I really enjoyed this read.

[Juana "Darkness" Duran · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's really amazing how the book differs from the movie. I watched the movie after I read the book and I found that the book was better because books almost always are going to have more tiny and big details.

[for-much-deliberation ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those exciting, edge of your seat, what should we do when it happens stories, the movie was quite good too...

[Laura McDougall · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun to read this so late after seeing and long-time-loving the movie. To be honest, I'm pretty glad for all the changes the movie made to the script and that the actors made to their characters. The script Jo and Melissa are weirdly petty and insecure and they engage in teenage behaviours despite being grown women. The movie Jo and Melissa are at least about their own business and not directly competing, even as circumstances set them up that way. The storm chaser crew are also pretty 2 dimensional, just waiting for someone to come along and own them OR maybe that's just the hallmark of a decent script - to provide a framework for other people's artistry. Either way, I enjoyed the nostalgic trip of reading the original for one of my favourite movies.

[Martín Boni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me llevé una sorpresa cuando empecé a leer el libro, ya que estaba convencido de que era una novela, pero resultó ser un guión cinematográfico. He escrito guiones de cine, pero nunca leí uno, y tengo que decir que, si te gusta el cine, es algo alucinante.
La historia es buena, logra trasmitir la pasión de los personajes por su profesión (estudiar los tornados), y logra que uno se meta dentro de la historia ofreciendo escenas muy visuales y bien descritas. Recomendada 100% para todas las personas amantes del cine, y sobre todo para los que nos gustan los fenómenos meteorológicos.

[joaqui. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"These storm chasers are unusual people. They combine the rigor of hard scientists with the instincts of naturalist and hunters. Their season is short, only a few months each year. Their work is fast-paced and sometimes dangerous, for they are studying the most unpredictable--and potentially deadly--phenomena of nature. Above all, they must be patient, for in a good year, they will witness two, or perhaps three, tornadoes. In a bad year, they will see none at all."





adapted film:
twister (1996) dir. Jan de Bont.

[Kyru Reads Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Actual rating: 4.5 Stars]

What can I say about this Screenplay? It's an entertaining read, and it's fun seeing what was carried over to the final shooting script and what changed. Some scenes are shuffled and...well, this characterization of Melissa I could have gone without.

Nothing more to really say other than if you're a fan of Twister and want to read the previous draft of the screenplay, or just have another thing to add to your Twister collection, I recommend it!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite movies, it is interesting to see what Crichton and his then-wife wrote compared to what was filmed. Jo motivation in the movie makes more sense than in this manuscript, and I LOVE Rusty played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman. That said I think I like Crichton's dryer humor than what was filmed.

[Amber - Eat, Tan, Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable and quick read! It was entertaining and kept my attention. I was very surprised how different the movie is from the screenplay. I am a huge fan of the movie and I equally enjoyed the book. I remember when i first saw the movie and it made me want to be a tornado chaser, reading this just brought me back to the excitement I first had. I was a little disappointed in Dusty, I enjoyed the movie's version of this character better. However, I liked the screenplay version of Melissa more than the movie. I suppose they didn't want her as likeable in the movie so you didn't feel bad for her when she just gets tossed aside.
The only negative I have is that Screenplays just don't grab you like novels do. They don't submerge you in the story and make you feel like you are in it, like you are apart of it.

[Joy Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novelization of the movie was fine. It wasn't exceptional, it wasn't terrible, but in this case the movie was better. I'm no sorry I read it, there is some interesting backstory in the book. If you loved the movie, read the book. If you didn't love the movie, don't bother.

[Tanya Riabko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this to compare to the movie. It’s a very quick read. If you’ve watched the movie as many times as I have, you will notice the obvious differences right away. Over all, a good read, and yes, there is still a flying cow.

[GrEatE · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

PG. 117 - "It's hot."

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is still one of my favorites whether it be the screenplay or the movie itself. Suspenseful and exhilarating!!

[Michael Pilgaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll never be a fan of reading books in the form of screenplays, but I really did enjoy the story.

[Jacob Smithson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good! The book is way different than the movie!

[Tms Lpez Sep · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pues es una adaptación al cine tiene sus altibajos pero no aporta mucho a la película

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book. I have seen the movie so I bet the book is even better.

[Ely Grados · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adoro leer guiones de películas que me gustaron porque me hacen ver la historia desde mi propia perspectiva y siento como si la viera por primera vez.